Going Nowhere Slowly - Oribi Gorge Part 2
Farm life for a couple of days, Far from the Madding Crowd absolute bliss. Our choice of accommodation is away from everything, this farm offered more than anyone could dream.
Winding down a tree lane, parking on the lawn we learned our accommodation had been moved from a smaller cottage to the main old farmstead named Shuttleworth House, entering via the backdoor.
Afternoon sun shining into the area where you kick off your shoes to relax with a sundowner.
Old fire driven stove to cook on, not used during our short stay. Microwaves offered in the main kitchen and an electrical stove. Just an idea on how this takes you back in time! Fire stove located on left side on back verandah in photo above.
A braai area to cook for 12 people, house with 8 bedrooms to sleep 12, perfect for large family gatherings to unwind.
Entering via backdoor straight into the dining room, finding your way around takes awhile in such a massive farmstead. Door to right of picture was a smaller bedroom (what could have been an old store room), left takes you into the lounge.
Lovely solid old furniture, decor to fit the times, even the light switches jumped out shouting old.
One half of the lounge was seating area with television, front area to the right a wonderful view over to the gorge in a smaller seating lounge area.
A writing desk to the left, a place to work with a view, between the smaller seating and writing desk the entrance to the front doors taking you to the pool, squash courts, tennis courts, childrens play area with spectacular view of the gorge.
Kitchen was impressive, place to enjoy the morning sun while having breakfast. Well equiped to cater to large groups or families, doorway leads to another bedroom for one person, I think that was the old pantry.
Bedrooms and bathrooms leading off passages, via other areas all lead back to the lounge, dining room or kitchen winding your way around the inside of the house.
Loved the old farm feeling, old furniture, wooden floors. Walk down memory lane of how our forefathers lived. Perhaps not on this scale of grandeur, however the old pieces of furniture looked oddly familiar.
Front of the homestead leading out from the lounge, small stoep (a small verandah) nowhere near the size of the back verandah, offering a wonderful view.
Open lawn area and beautiful garden leading down to the pool, boma, squash court, childrens play area.
Farming is predominantly macadamia trees as can be seen from the childrens play area looking over toward the gorge. In the past 30 years these nuts have become saught after, changing sugar cane crops to a landscape of trees.
A working farm, to my delight one of the owners took us through the process of how Macadamia Nuts are prepared before going out to market.
Arriving green from the trees, slowly dried with air at various temperatures through a variety of stages, moving along a conveyor to reach the round brown shells at the end.
All along the sorting of good from bad nuts takes place, nothing goes to waste, the husks are used or sold to local farmers to fire up burners for oil extraction, a place of waste not want not farming in a small community supporting each other.
From bin to bin the operation takes the little nuts along, to reach the brilliant golden/brown close to completion on this cycle.
At the end of day workers arriving back from toiling the fields, it would have been interesting to witness a day of their lives to know what they do, alas we had arrived just before a long weekend. Their time for some well deserved rest.
Smiling faces even after the exceptionally long hard days working in fields.
After visiting the Macadamia Nut preparation process, it was time to take a walk around the farmstead.
Children would love this environment, learning about animal life.
Goat grinning at me above. Cattle out to pasture...
Horse looking over Sugar Cane fields, rolling green hills alive in KwaZulu-Natal.
Sitting on the verandah now with a cool beer in hand watching the horses coming home to their paddock, after some free time out on the hills.
Not sure if this is a rabbit or a hare taken from about twenty meters away, out romping once everyone had left the working farm area.
With more to share in Oribi Gorge this farm style living in the area comes to an end, with so much to do and see around the farm this is a taste of what is in the area.
Another post to follow, visiting the gorge itself.
First part of this area : https://steemit.com/landscapephotography/@joanstewart/going-nowhere-slowly-oribi-gorge
Communities I support: @qurator @steemitbloggers @steemthat @teamsouthafrica @kryptonia
!steemitworldmap 30.695 lat 30.2833 long Oribi Gorge D3SCR
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This looks like a wonderfully relaxing place to stay. The details of the macadamia nut processing are fascinating. The photos are awesome!
Having worked in manufacturing processes over the years (albeit accounting) I always found going through the processes interesting. Sugar process in the 80's where I worked, when they first started testing flavoured syrup, stripping cane down and extracting the sugar, a big plant close to home.
During the 90's and early this century (sounds strange) worked in paper making, the liquid to bind different papers together print, notes for banks etc. Also managed a trip through a couple of paper mills, so yes I found this super interesting.
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How charming! Thank you for making us a part of your experience. Again, generous of you!
It is a wonderful little area, be sure to read the next post in this area, full of fun and surprises @nexit
Your stories are either beautiful or fascinating!
Thank you for your kind words @damiana
Living in this kind of environment eases the stress city life offers.It is very peaceful, away from pollution and no traffic. Upvoted!
Yes @rubelynmacion anywhere out of cities is the life for me, never been fond of feeling cooped up.
This is what I am talking about a quiet life in the farm even for just a moment. Wide open spaces makes me feel so alive. Thank you for sharing.
Always a joy to feel the fresh air, hear the birds singing and feel at one with nature.
Oh my God! I want to visit here so much. The house is awesome! We have a stove like this at our country house here in Russia. I love these. Showing these pics to my wife to convince her on a vacation in the Southern Hemisphere. ;)
My Gran and one of my Aunt's had a coal/wood fire in their homes, feels like yesterday. Going into a home with cherished old furniture to fit into the time frame of the farmstead was a treat, next edition still to come on this small area. By the time we are finished, you will have a well planned map to KwaZulu-Natal. :)
Wow such a nice place, I bet the air is so fresh also there.
Crisp and clean environment, most enjoyable getaway.
The garden and pool area looks beautiful. Great photos! Kryptonia - philnewton
Unfortunately I did not get to swim, no time to lay around a pool. Explored their beautiful garden that was lush and full of birds, thanks for visiting @philnewton
always in love with your post full with wisdom
Far From The Madding Crowd, one of my fave books :) I went to Oribi Gorge as a kid, def need to make a trip there again!
Well worth while to make a long weekend of it @sweetpea very close to all activities.
Very beautiful and fascinating environment and of course would really be nice to visit....Thanks for sharing
@bitcoinpaul
It's great to discover life.
i come here by your kryptonia´s tasks , but your post are great @joanstewart . Now i follow you
so beautiful..
Where do you find all these hidden gems? Looks like a wonderful "escape" from reality. How sad that the long weekend came to an end so quickly.
Now is the right time of year to consider visiting, humidity is not so terribly high @luckylie
Awesome travel post @joanstewart
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